Happy Memorial Day!

Today we are going to visit our Grandparents graves.

Grandmother and Grandad both passed away in June of 2010. It seems like just yesterday that we they were coming to family events and having us over for dinner and ice cream cones. 90-year-old Grandad painted our ceiling, less than a year before he passed away. He came over with his ladder and painting tools and told us to put him to work.

Grandmother was still doing crossword puzzles, and writing down everyone's names so that she could make people connections just before she passed away. She could find connections/relations to anyone she ran into.

I picture Grandad working outdoors working in the his yard or someone elses, making furniture and toys for the grandkids, putting together giant jigsaw puzzles, and Grandmother cooking something up in the kitchen, sewing, preparing lessons, or riding on the bike while reading the Ensign.

They passed away within a few weeks of each other.

Grandma and Grandpa Patten

 

Mom and Grandpa Patten

 

Grandpa Patten passed away in December of 2010. What an amazing man! We asked the children what they remembered about their Great Grandparents as we were driving to the cemeteries. When we brought up Grandpa Patten, Tyler remembered his apricot tree in the back, Kaylee remembered he always had those round pink mints and nuts to share, Emma remembered that he was always happy, and Jacob couldn't wait for his turn to tell us "I Love him!".

I remember always feeling welcome in his home and his big garden that provided several of his own home-cooked meals for us and anyone else who would come to visit.  He taught me how to can and bake bread, and he baked loaves of bread for all his neighbors and friends. One day he invited us over for onion sandwiches for lunch. I didn't even like onion at the time, but those sandwiches weren't too bad, and I'll never forget the fact that I ate one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visiting the grave sites of Grandmother and Grandad and Grandma and Grandpa Patten.

05/27/12